Chapter Text
The bay doors are already open when Eddie pulls in.
Hen’s inside. Chim’s arguing with the coffee machine. Bobby’s at his desk.
It looks normal.
Almost.
Eddie doesn’t expect anything.
He doesn’t let himself.
But as he steps out of his truck—
There’s another one parked two spaces down.
Familiar.
Engine ticking as it cools.
Buck’s jeep.
The station door is closed.
Eddie stands there longer than he means to.
The engine ticking slows.
He exhales.
Then the station door opens.
Buck steps out.
Not in turnout gear.
Not in lifeguard red.
Jeans. T-shirt. Keys in hand.
He stops when he sees Eddie.
There’s a second where neither of them moves.
“You’re early,” Buck says, like it’s an ordinary thing to notice.
“Traffic was light.”
Buck nods.
A beat.
“You, uh—” Eddie gestures vaguely toward the building. “Visiting?”
Buck looks back at the station.
Then at his jeep.
“Yeah,” he says. “Something like that.”
It’s not a lie.
It’s not an answer either.
Eddie shifts his weight.
The air isn’t sharp anymore.
Just uncertain.
“You don’t have to decide anything today,” Eddie says.
Buck studies him for a moment.
“Didn’t think I did.”
Another beat.
Then Buck’s mouth tilts slightly.
“You coming in?”
It’s simple.
Casual.
Like it doesn’t mean anything.
Eddie nods once.
“Yeah.”
They walk toward the door together.
Not touching.
Not rushing.
Just… parallel.
The engine in Buck’s jeep gives one last soft tick as it cools.
For now, it’s parked.
And that’s enough.